Fire extinguisher



Sept. 5, D ESTES FIRE EXTINGUISHBR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1951p 1933- D. ESTES FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed April 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2by M. $07 716 Patented Sept. 5, 1933 zgli STTES PATENT EIQE ApplicationAprfl 16,

8 Claims.

My present invention relates to fire extinguishers, and includes a novelmethod of manufacturing the same.

When utilizing fire extinguishers of the hand type with certain fireextinguishing compounds, it is desirable that the interior of theextinguisher be provided with a deposit of nickel plating, forprotective purposes. In prior extinguishers wherein the shell iscomposed of sheet material having its edges overlapped, soldered andriveted, as well as in prior extinguishers wherein the threaded collaris flanged and soldered to the interior of the shell or dome adjacent tothe top opening, it has been very difficult to apply a ductile nickelplate to such interiors, because of the bi-metallic surfaces which mustbe coated.

Furthermore, if the soldering at any of the joints on the interior ofthe extinguisher has been ground, as is customary, particles of thegrinding compound or medium are forced into the solder, on its exposedsurface, thus preventing adhesion of the nickel plating thereto.

An important object of the present invention, therefore, resides in theprovision of a fire extinguisher wherein the interior of the shellcomprises a uni-metallic uninterrupted surface, lending itself withgreat adaptability to the reception and deposit of a ductile nickelplate.

In the prior types of fire extinguishers wherein the threaded collar wasflanged and soldered to the interior of the shell or dome adjacent tothe top opening, a point or line of weakness is present, oftenresulting, when pressure is built up within the extinguisher, in theblowing off of the cap and collar. Many serious and fatal accidents haveoccurred because of this weakness of construction.

A further important object, therefore, of the present invention residesin the provision of a fire extinguisher wherein the neck or throatportion thereof is possessed of greater strength than the body of theshell. Thus the throat and neck portion of my novel extinguisher iscapable of withstanding greater pressure and strain than the body of theshell of which said neck and throat portion is a part.

In carrying out my present invention I preferably draw the shell of mynovel extinguisher as an integral unitary member, providing a neckprotruding from said shell beyond the required distance. Over thisprotruding neck I apply a threaded collar which abuts against the shell,to which is threaded the cap or head. The protruding neck is of greaterheight than the height of said threaded collar, and after the collar has1931. Serial No. 530,548

been positioned, the excess portion of said neck is forced outwardly anddownwardly upon the top of said threaded collar, said projecting portionbeing substantially the same width as the thickness of the collar.Thereupon I preferably re-thread collar, which simultaneously shapes andadapts the turned edge of the neck to the thread of said collar.

The extinguisher thus briefly described is simple and economical tomanufacture, and is possessed of the further advantages of anuninterrupted uni-metallic interior surface, eliminating all solderedjoints, and eliminating also the flanged collar heretofore utilized, aswell as presenting a strong, rugged and durable neck and throat portion.

If desired, I may provide on the interior surface of the threaded collaran annular groove, and after the projecting neck has been flanged oversaid collar, I may spin the metal of the neck into said groove,thereupon inserting an expansible metal ring into the neck, said ringbeing provided with a peripheral rib corresponding to the recess orgroove above mentioned, and expand said ring so that its peripheral ribis forced into the groove formed in the neck. This expanded ringconstitutes a support for the cage suspension for the internal mechanismof the extinguisher.

In place of the ring support above described, I may provide the neck ofthe extinguisher with a single inwardly projecting lip or lug, or with aplurality of inwardly projecting lugs, these lugs being formed in theneck before application of the threaded collar thereover. Either thesingle annular lug or rib, or the plurality of lugs, will provide amplesupport for the aforementioned cage.

I believe that the fire extinguishers above briefly described, arenovel, and I have therefore claimed the same broadly in the presentapplication.

I also believe that the method of manufacturing the same, utilizing thesteps above briefly described, is novel, and have therefore includedclaims to this method broadly in this application.

Other features and objects of the invention, details of construction,combinations of parts, and advantages, will be hereinafter more fullypointed out, described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of thepresent invention,

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly broken away, illustrating my novelextinguisher during the method of manufacture;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating theprojecting neck headed over on to the threaded collar;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the use ofthe grooved threaded collar into which the material of the neck has beenspun;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating theexpanded cage supporting ring;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating theformation of a plurality of cage supporting lugs directly in the neck ofthe shell;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating theformation of a single inwardly projecting annular cage supporting rib.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating theprovision of means to prevent r0- tation of the threaded collar; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating analternative means to prevent rotation of said collar.

Referring now to the drawings, for a particular description of theinvention, 10 designates the shell of my novel extinguisher which isdrawn as a seamless unitary member, including a neck 11 projectingvertically at the top open end of the shell. While I have illustrated,and referred to the member 10 as a shell, it will be appreciated andunderstood by those skilled in this art that my invention may bepracticed with equal facility on fire extinguishers wherein a dome isutilized together with a shell, and that the word shell as usedthroughout the description and claims refers to either a complete shell,or the dome portion, which is itself of shell formation.

Over the projecting neck 11 is positioned a threaded collar 12,preferably having a snug fit around said neck and against the outer edgeof the shell adjacent to the throat thereof.

The collar 12 is of less height than the neck 11, and after the collar12 has been positioned, the projecting portion 13 of said neck is turneddown upon the top of the collar 12, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.After the projecting portion 13 is turned down, I may, if desired,re-thread the collar 12, which will simultaneously shape the outer edgeof the projecting portion 13 to the shape of the teeth of the collar 12,as clearly illustrated at 14.

It will thus be appreciated, from an inspection of Fig. 2, that theinterior 15 of my novel fire extinguisher, as thus far completed,comprises a seamless uninterrupted uni-metallic surface, ideally adaptedfor the reception of a ductile nickel plate, preferably applied by theusual electro-plating methods.

Thereupon the usual elbow 16 is aflixed to the shell 10, and the usualhose 17 united thereto by a coupling 18, said hose being provided withthe customary discharge nozzle 19.

From an inspection of Fig. 2, also, it will be apparent that the neckand throat portion of a fire extinguisher constructed according to myinvention will be possessed of tremendous strength and pressureresisting qualities, which will be instantly apparent to those skilledin this art.

The extinguisher illustrated in Fig. 2 is now complete, at the throatportion, for those types of extinguishers wherein the internal mechanismis suspended from the cap or top, but as many extinguishers utilize acage suspension for said in ternal mechanism, I may provide myextinguisher with supporting means for this cage.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have illustratetd one method of carrying out thisfeature of the invention, wherein the threaded collar 20 is providedwith an annular groove 21 on its inner surface. After the collar 20 ispositioned, I then spin the metal of the neck 11 into the groove asclearly illustrated at 22. Thereupon a ring 23 is inserted into the neck11, this ring 23 being provided with an annular rib 24 on its outersurface. The ring 23 is positioned in the neck 11 so that the rib 24 isin alinement with the groove 22 formed in the neck 11. Thereupon saidring is expanded outwardly, until the rib 24 is seated in the groove 22and the ring firmly held in said neck. The ring 23, located on theinterior of the neck 11, thus constitutes a strong support for theaforementioned cage.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a modification of cage suspension means,wherein a plurality of inwarrlly projecting lugs 25 are formed in theneck 11 before the threaded collar 12 is applied. These lugs 25 are of asufiicient number and so spaced as to provide ample support for saidcage, as will be understood.

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated, in place of the plurality of lugs 25, asingle inwardly projecting rib 26 extending completely around theinterior of the neck 11, this rib being formed in the neck 11 prior toapplication of the collar 12.

All or" the modifications illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive arepossessed of the same advantages of strength and seamless internalplating surfaces as the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 7, I have illustrated the collar 12 as provided with a pluralityof indentations 27. After the neck 3 is flanged over as at 13, I thenpress the metal of the neck 11 into the indentations 27, as illustratedat 28. This may be performed at any desired number of points around theinner periphery of the neck 11, and will effectually prevent anytendency on the part of the collar 12 to rotate, should the cap becomecorroded, or otherwise stuck thereon, and will permit the use ofconsiderable force to effect a turning and removal of the cap or cover.

In Fig. 8, I have illustrated the top and bottom edges 29 and 30 of thecollar 12 as provided with a coarse knurling. Thus when the neck isflanged over, as at 13, the pressure will force the material of theflange 13 into this knurling, and will also force the bottom knurlededge 30 into the material of the shell 10 as illustrated at 31.

The two forms of means to prevent rotation of the collar 12 illustratedin Figs. 7 and 8 are for illustrative purposes, as will be readilyunderstood.

The bottom of the extinguisher may be applied and secured to the shell10 in any desired manner.

It will thus be appreciated by those skilled in this art that I havedevised a novel fire extinguisher, and method of making same, having theadvantages of strength, uninterrupted interior, economy, ease ofmanufacture, and simplicity.

While I have necessarily described my present invention somewhat indetail, it will be appreciated that I may vary the size, shape, andarrangement of parts, within reasonably wide limits, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claims asfollows:

1. A fire extinguisher, comprising a shell, a tubular integral neckprojecting therefrom, a threaded collar of less height than said necksurrounding said neck, the open end of said neck being flanged over saidcollar throughout the entire periphery of said open end to lock saidcollar in position, and cage supporting means integral with and pressedinwardly from said neck.

2. A fire extinguisher, comprising a shell, a tubular integral neckprojecting therefrom, a threaded collar of less height than said necksurrounding said neck, the open end of said neck being flanged over saidcollar throughout the entire periphery of said open end to lock saidcollar in position, and a plurality of cage supporting lugs pressedinwardly intermediate the ends of said neck.

3. A fire extinguisher, comprising a shell, a tubular integral neckprojecting therefrom, a threaded collar of less height than said necksurrounding said neck, the open end of said neck being flanged over saidcollar throughout the entire periphery of said open end to lock saidcollar in position, and an annular cage supporting rib pressed inwardlyintermediate the ends of said neck.

4. A fire extinguisher, comprising a seamless shell, a tubular integralneck projecting therefrom, a threaded collar surrounding said neck, theopen end of said neck being flanged over said collar to lock said collarin position, said collar having an annular groove on its inner surface,a portion of the material of said neck being forced into said groove,whereby said neck also has an annular groove on its interior surface, acage supporting ring on the interior of said neck, and an annular rib onthe interior surface of said ring seated in the groove on the interiorsurface of said neck.

5. A fire extinguisher comprising a relatively thin sheet metal shell, atubular integral neck projecting therefrom, a threaded collarsurrounding said neck and fastened thereto, and a cage supportingformation constituting an integral part of the neck pressed inwardlyintermediate the ends of said neck.

6. A fire extinguisher comprising a sheet metal shell inclusive of aneck, a collar surrounding said neck and fastened thereto, and a cagesupporting formation integral with said neck and pressed laterallytherefrom between the ends of the collar.

'7. A fire extinguisher comprising a sheet metal shell inclusive of aneck, an interiorly grooved collar surrounding said neck, the metal ofthe neck being pressed into the groove of the collar to fasten thelatter to the neck and to provide an inwardly opening groove in the neckto accommodate a cage supporting element, and a cage supporting elementwithin the neck having a retaining formation disposed in said groove.

8. A fire extinguisher comprising a sheet metal shell inclusive of aneck, a collar surrounding said neck and fastened thereto, a laterallyextending formation pressed from the neck between the ends thereof, anda cage supporting ring within the neck having a formation interfittingwith the 1 formation of the neck.

DANA ESTES.

